12-year-old Alexis Shapiro is finally getting lifesaving gastric bypass surgery after she gained more than 140 pounds in two years due to a metabolic disorder resulting from brain surgery.

Shapiro had surgery to remove a benign brain tumor two years ago, and since then has not been able to stop eating. She gained almost 200 pounds even with a strict diet due to a dramatic drop in her metabolism, and has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

Doctors recommended gastric bypass surgery, but her family couldn't cover the cost and the insurance company refused to help. They started a GoFundMe campaign and raised over $80,000 to cover the procedure. Doctors said without the operation, she would continue to gain weight at a rate of 2 pounds per week.

After the surgery, Shapiro will be on a liquid diet for a month as her body adjusts to a smaller stomach.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today’s UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.

A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond.

UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI when after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst. Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications.